Apparatus for separating materials of different gravities.



No. 762,870. PATENTBD JUNB'ZI, 1904.

H. A. ALLEN.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING MATERIALS OF DIFFERENT GRAVITIES.

APPLICATION IILED MAR. 1a, 1903.

no MODEL. Y

No. veasro.

. UNITED ST TES Patented June 21, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. ALLEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,870, dated June 21,1904.

Application filed arch 16 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. ALLEN, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus for Separating Materials of Different Gravities, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,in which similar numerals of reference in the different figures indicatelike parts.

The object of my invention is to so construct an apparatus forseparating material of different specific gravities that the principleof the vortex whirl may be utilized in conjunctionwith a gaseous fluidand liquid operating throughout a closed system, said gaseous fluid andliquid aiding to produce a separating action upon the mass of materialto be treated. I accomplish said object by means of a closed circularvessel having eduction-openings at the upper and lower parts,respectively, with means for introducing the materials to be separatedor treated, together with a gaseous fluid and a liquid under pressure,the latter being introduced, preferably, tangentially to the body ofsaid receiving vessel and arranged to circulate through an auxiliarysystem in such a way that the gaseous fluid and liquid may be used overand over to any predetermined extent.

A further object is to provide means whereby the pressure upon thesystem may be varied at will, while at the same time the relative volumein circulation of the gaseous fluid and liquid may also be varied withrespect to each other. I accomplish said objects in the mannerhereinafter specified, and particularly set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a separator, a pump, acompressor, together with the necessary reservoirs and connectingpipeswhich serve to complete the system; and i Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view of an. adjustable nozzle.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a hollow cylinder, preferablyformed of metal, which constitutes the body of the separator. Bolted orotherwise attached to suitable flanges upon the respective ends of saidcylinder are end pieces 2 3, preferably of conical shape, as

Serial No. 148,044. (No model.)

shown, the one forming the bottom and the. other the top of theseparator. A central discharge-openingis formed in the bottom, whichopeningis normally closed by means of a valve (not shown) upon the upperend of ascrewthreaded valve-stem 4:, having a hand-wheel 5. An inclinedconduit 6 is provided with an opening at the lower end normally closedby means of a cap 7 secured thereto in an approved way. Theconstructionof said valve, discharge-conduit, and other special features inconnection therewith are fully shown and described in an applicationheretofore filed by me as Serial No. 116,672, filed July 23, 1902, and Imake no claim thereto in this application. A vertical charging-pipe 8 isconnected, by means of a jointed fitting 9, with a horizontalinduction-pipe 10, arranged tangentially to and in communication withthe cylindrical portion of said separator. The charging-pipe 8 ispreferably provided with a closing-valve 11 at or near its upper end.The bottom 3 of the separator is preferably provided with a verticalportion 12, with which is connected, by means of suitable fittings, asshown, a series of pipes 13 14 15, the inlet of which is tangential tothe part 3. Said pipes are provided, respectively, with shut-01f valves16, 17, and 18. Said pipes 13, 14:, and 15 connect with a fitting 19,which in turn connects with a service-pipe 20 in communication with aclosed reservoir 21, a valve 22 being interposed in said pipe. Thereservoir 21 is con nected, by means of a pipe 23, with theeduction-pipe 24-fof a pump 25, a valve 26 being interposed to shut offcommunication when desired, as hereinafter described.

Connected with the fitting 9 is a fitting 27, to which is connected anozzle which is extended into and is concentric with the pipe 10.

Said nozzle, the details .of which are shown in Fig. 2, is renderedadjustable by means of an adjusting-screw 28. A pipe 29, together withsuitable fittings shown, serves to connect the fitting 27 with the pipe20, a valve 30 being interposed between the two.

Connected with the fitting 19 is a pipe 31, leading downwardly andthence horizontally to a hollow casing 32, said pipe 31 being acontinuation of the pipe 20 and being provided with a valve 33. Theupper part of the easing 32 is provided with a suitable stuifingboX,through which is projected a vertical pipe 34, which is carried upwardlythrough the hollow tube 4 into the throat of the opening at the bottomof the separator, thus forming a nozzle adapted to be adjusted by meansof a hand-wheel 5.

Rigidly attached to the top 2 of the separator is a fitting 36, withwhich is connected a discharge-pipe 37, having a valve 38 therein. Thedischarge-pipe 37 is in communication with a closed receiver 39, havingan outlet 40, normally closed by means of a valve 41. Above the fitting36 is a chambered dome 42 in communication with said fitting, the upperpart of which is connected, by means of a pipe 43, having a shut-offvalve 44 therein, with the lower portion of a tank or reservoir 45, theupper portion of which is connected, by means of a pipe 46, with theintake-pipe 47 of the compressor 25, a valve 48 being interposed in thepipe 46. A pipe 49, having a shut-off valve 50, enables air or otherfluid to be taken from the atmosphere or any suitable source of supplyat will. Sediment-pipes 51 52 in the tanks 21 and 45, respectively,enable the sediment to be withdrawn from said tanks at will, valves 5354 being provided to close said outlets. A pipe 55, having valves 56 57therein, serves to connect the eductionpipe of the compressor with thepipe 43, and therebywith the chamber of the part 42. A valve 58 islocated in the pipe 43 for the purpose hereinafter stated. The pipe 55is intended to be used only for cleaning out the separator, and itshould be understood that the valves 56 and 57 are normally closed,while the valve 58 is normally open.

Discharge pipes 59 60, having valves 61 62, respectively, are located inthe upper part of the body of the separator, substantially as shown, andare designed to be used for classifying purposes. The pipe 59 leads to aclosed receptacle 63, having a discharge-pipe 64, in which is interposeda shut-off valve 65, while the pipe leads into a like receiver 66, having a like discharge-pipe 67, closed by means of a valve 68. Y

A pump 69 is located in suitable proximity to the receiver 1, with whichpump is connected an eduction-pipe 7 O in communication with a fitting71, from which branch pipes 72 73 74 are led to connect, respectively,with the pipes 13, 14, and 15, said branch pipes being provided withvalves 75, 76, and 77, respectively. A pipe 78, having a valve 79,serves to connect the fitting 71 with a fitting 80, which is connectedin turn with the fitting 9. A branch pipe 81 also leads downwardly fromthe pipe and is connected with the chambered fitting 32, a valve 82being interposed in the former.

Connected with the dome 42 is a pipe 83, having a valve 84 therein, saidpipe being in communication with a closed receptacle 85, provided with adrip-pipe 86, normally closed by means of avalve 87. The receptacle 85is connected in turn, by means of a pipe 88, with the intake of the pump69.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows: The material ormaterials to be separated having been fed into the separator through thefeed-pipe 8 and the valves 26, 22, so, 16, 17, 1s, 3s, 38, 44,48, 61,and 62 being opened and the valves 11, 50, 53, 54, 56, 57, 41, 65, and68 being closed, the action in connection with the compressor will firstbe explained independently of that of the pump. Assuming that air orother gaseous fluid is to be utilized, it is forced by the compressoroutwardly throughout the pipe 23, tank 21, and pipe 20 into theseparator through the several branch pipes 27, 13, 14, 15, and 34,assuming the several valves to be open, as described. This serves toimpart a whirling and otherwise agitating action to the fluids andmaterials within the separator, whereby the particles of differentgravity may tend to separate. The air or gaseous fluid passes upwardlythrough the chamber 42 to the pipe 43, receptacle 45, and pipe 46, backto the compressor, thereby completing a cycle.

The fluid circulation induced by the pump 69 is as follows: Upon openingthe several valves 75, 7 6, 7 7 79, and 82 of the inductionpipes and 84of the eduction-pipe, which latter is presumed to be normally open, afluid circulation will be established from the pump through the severalbranch induction-pipes enumerated and the separator, from whence it willpass through the pipe 83, receptacle 85, and pipe 88, back to the pump.With the compressor 25 in simultaneous operation the gaseous and liquidfluids will be commingled within the separator in substantially equalquantities. The proportions, however, may be varied at will bymanipulating the several valves controlling the induction-pipes. Forexample, assuming the valve 33 to be closed and the valve 82 to be openliquid only would pass into the separator through the pipe 34. 1f thevalves 17, 7 5, and 77 were closed and the valves 16 and 18 opened,liquid only would pass through the pipe 14 and air or other gaseousfluids through the pipes 13 and 15. So with the pipe 10 the character ofthe ingoing medium would depend upon the manipulation of the valves 30and 79. It will thus be seen that any desired modification may be madeas a result of the special manipulation of said several valves, and thatregardless of the relative character of the fluid employed. For example,air or other gaseous fluid and water, or air or other gaseous fluid andoil, or a liquid chemical mixtnre may be employed, it being obvious thatwhichever it may be it may be used over and over with comparativelylittle loss, which less, if of air or gaseous fluid, may be made upthrough the pipe 49 by closing the valve 48 and opening the valve 50until the required pressure is attained. The liquid loss may bereplenished through the charging-pipe 8 or from any suitable source ofsupply communicating with the intake-pipe of the pump 69.

It is obvious that either the gaseous-fluid system or the liquid systemmay be used intermittently by manipulating the necessary valves, asshownthat is to say, the respective systems may be alternated or used inany combined manner desired. By opening the valves 56, 57, and 50, whichare normally closed, and closing all the other valves, which arenormally open, air may be taken from the atmosphere or from anair-pressure tank through charge-pipe 8 should be of such a height as topermit astatic head to be maintained sufficient to overcome anypredetermined pressure in the main receptacle.

In order to draw ofl materials at different levels at will, the valve inthe bottom of the receptacle would normally be for continuous operationentirely or in part open. The tube 34, ending in a nozzle, would beadjusted to act similar to the well-known hydraulic separator. When itis desired to draw off the material from the chamber 6, said bottom ordischarge valve may be closed, the cover 7 taken off, thematerialremoved, the cover replaced, and the bottom valve again opened to theposition of normal running. A similar course may be pursued in removingmaterials from the receptacles 39, 63, and 66, the valves 38, 61, and 62being first closed andthe valves 41, 65, and 68 being opened. After thematerial has been removed, all the valves can .then be returned to theirrespective normal working positions.

Having thus described my invention, I

said liquid and gaseous fluid through said system and suitable valvesfor controlling the flow thereof at will.

3. An ore-separator in which is combined a closed separating vessel,means for introducing thereto the material to be separated, independentsources of liquid and gaseous fluid supplies, independent conduitsforming circulating systems leading in closed circuits away from andback to said separating vcssel, means for discharging the materialsacted upon, means for independently forcing circulation through saidseparating systems and suitable valves for controlling said circulation.

4. An ore-separating apparatus in which is combined a closed separatingvessel, means for introducing thereto the materials to be separated,means located at different levels for discharging the particles ofdifferent specific gravities, pipes leading into said separating vessel,a gaseous-fluid compressor and a liquidpump, each connected with saidpipes, a gaseous-fluid reservoir connected with said compressor, aliquid-reservoir connected with said pump and pipes for connecting saidrespective reservoirs with the upper part of said separating vessel.

5. An ore-separating apparatus in which is combined a closed separatingvessel, means for introducing thereto the materials to be separated,means located at different levels for discharging the particles ofdifferent specific gravities, pipes leading into said separating vessel,a gaseous-fluid compressor and a liquid-pump, each connected with saidpipes, valves controlling the admission of gaseous fluid and liquid tosaid pipes, a gaseous-fluid reservoir connected with said compressor, aliquid fluid reservoir connected with said pump and pipes for connectingsaid respective reservoirs with the upper part of said separatingvessel.

6. An ore-separator in which is combined a closed separating vessel,means for introducing thereto the materials to be separated, independentsources of liquid and gaseous fluid supplies, independent conduitsforming circular systems leading in closed circuits away from and backto said separating vessel, means for discharging the separated materialswhile the apparatus is in operation, means for independently forcinggaseous and liquid fluid circulations through said separating systemsand suitable valves for controlling said circulations.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification, in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses, this 14th dayof March, 1903.

HENRY A. ALLEN.

Witnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, CARRIE E. JORDAN.

